Ladakh Bars Protests in Leh and Kargil as Local Poll Code Takes Effect

A ban on street politics

Electoral authorities in Ladakh have outlawed political sit-ins, marches, hunger strikes and rallies within the municipal areas of Leh and Kargil for as long as the Model Code of Conduct remains active. The restriction, announced on Wednesday by Chief Electoral Officer Rahul Sharma, applies to parties, contestants, workers and supporters alike, and is meant to safeguard a calm and fair voting environment.

The directive rests on Section 282 of the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000, along with the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Committee (Election) Rules, 2003. Officials argue that collective political gatherings could intimidate voters and undermine public order. District election officers, who are the Deputy Commissioners of Leh and Kargil, together with the police, have been tasked with enforcement, and any breach will invite action under the applicable laws and code provisions.

Wangchuk calls for intervention

The order arrived as climate activist Sonam Wangchuk urged the Centre to step in. In a post on X, he shared a video in which leaders from Leh and Kargil, including the region’s Member of Parliament, asked the President, the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha to intervene. Wangchuk warned that peaceful but intense agitation could follow if their concerns were ignored.

He said discussions on restoring democratic structures had stalled and accused the administration of pressing ahead with the polls despite objections from residents. He also questioned the timing, pointing to heavy snowfall, harsh winter conditions and the seasonal movement of local people. Wangchuk further criticised the delay in the judicial inquiry commission’s report on the September 24 violence in Leh, noting that a year has passed since those events.

Election schedule and code

The Model Code of Conduct took effect on October 23 and will stay in place until the entire election process is complete. Polling for the municipal committees and panchayats in Leh and Kargil is set for November 11, according to one account, while elections to the eight Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils are scheduled for December 4. Political parties and candidates have been instructed to follow the code strictly and to avoid any activity that could coerce or sway voters.

The order also requires wide publicity through print and electronic media, and asks that copies be displayed at prominent public locations, including municipal offices and the notice boards of the Deputy Commissioners. Officials say the aim is to keep the electoral process free, fair and peaceful.

Background

The restrictions come at a time of tension over the conduct of local polls in the Union Territory. Wangchuk’s appeal and the leadership’s joint plea show that political unease remains, even as the administration moves ahead with its election timetable. Whether the central government responds to the appeal has not yet been stated.